Cops: Upper Darby barber slain at work

William Bender and Stephanie Farr

An Upper Darby barber was shot to death at point-blank range on the job today while patrons - including a 4-year-old boy - cowered on the floor, according to police.

Around 1:54 p.m., a man dressed from head to toe in black with cloth covering his face went in to Modern Hair Designs on Copley Road and announced a robbery, said Upper Darby Police Superintendent Michael Chitwood.

The six people inside - the barber, another employee and several customers, including the child who was there with his father - got on the floor.

The gunman then walked directly up to the barber and the barber said to him, "I got your money," as though he knew what the man was there for, according to Chitwood. The barber then handed over a wad of cash from his pocket and was shot once in the head by the gunman.

The barber, who was identified as 35-year-old Michael Turner, was pronounced dead on scene, police said. No other shots were fired and no one else suffered any injuries in the incident, according to police.

"We believe it was a hit, we believe this was targeted," Chitwood said. "He doesn't say anything to anybody else. His whole focus is on this guy."

Chitwood said Turner had previously been arrested for drug possession, gun possession and rape.

The gunman, who remains unidentified, escaped in a gold-colored car with tinted windows south on Copley Road.